It’s not that Schumer is ANTI-gun. He just wants to be on the side that controls them.

“Many Americans have been permanently prevented from purchasing firearms because of a Chuck Schumer amendment — enacted in the early 1990s — that prevents many potential gun buyers from getting their rights restored,” Gun Owners of America notes in a Wednesday action alert. The rights group is urging members and supporters to “contact the House CJS Subcommittee chairman, Rep. John Culberson. Urge him to remove the anti-gun Schumer amendment from the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill — thus, deleting the anti-gun language from federal law.”

Huh? What in the world is that about?

It all starts with the so-called “Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986.” That’s the one that “compromised” and horse-traded on the right to keep and bear arms, the one right where the mandate is that it “shall not be infringed.” It was intended to “correct” abuses by ATF highlighted in a 1982 Senate Subcommittee report, and it did that by assuming powers nowhere delegated in the Constitution. Among the “concessions” is the general ban on private citizen ownership of post-enactment (May 19, 1986) machine guns (which some, typically those owning guns with artificially hyper-inflated values, seem to like just fine for some reason).

What did “We the People” get in return? Among other things, a supposed registry prohibition, and supposed “safe passage” to transport firearms while traveling through states that banned their own citizens from such firearms (and we’ve seen how well that’s worked in places like New Jersey). And “we” were also supposed to get the ability — for those who have run afoul of the “law” and are designated “prohibited persons” — to apply for restoration of rights.

An undeniable truth (well, the antis can deny it, but they’d be wrong) is that anyone who can’t be trusted with a gun can’t be trusted without a custodian. As far as released felons are concerned, if they’re still truly dangerous, Robert J. Kukla made a brilliant observation in his classic “Gun Control,” equating their release with opening the cage of a man-eating tiger and expecting a different result.

A dangerous character?

Understand this isn’t an “Arm Charlie Manson” effort. There are plenty of hoops—starting with ATF and ending in federal courts – an applicant must jump through to prove he is no danger to himself and others. Does anyone really think Martha Stewart and Scooter Libby are going to engage in drive-bys?

“For roughly 25 years, the ‘Schumer amendment’ to the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill has prohibited any federal funds from being used to restore anyone’s constitutional rights,” GOA explains. “So for much of this time, if a person were a veteran with PTSD, they’re out of luck. If they had a conviction for a federal regulatory offense — fifty years ago — they’re out of luck. They will NEVER get their guns back, thanks to Democrat Chuck Schumer.”

The amendment has been included annually in appropriations as part of the “compromise” with Democrats – the same politicians who want to restore voting rights to their overwhelmingly supportive demographic of felons. And past appeals to remove it from the bill have been ignored, in large part because most gun owners are unaware of the shenanigans, and too few are committed to turning up the heat and exacting a political cost on Republicans who betray them.

If you’re going to lead, Rep. Culberson, then lead.

“So please, Congressman Culberson, make the right choice and delete the Schumer amendment from this year’s Commerce-Justice-Science ‘chairman’s mark,’” GOA asks in a representative message intended for members to amplify.

I’d go a step further. I’d let Culberson know that with an “A”-rating from GOA and with an “A+” and endorsement from NRA, I shouldn’t have to be sending polite form mailers asking him to “please” do his job. He’s happy to accept gun owners support and to represent himself as a Second Amendment leader and champion. It’s not too much to expect him to act like one and to vocally lead the charge on this, especially since it’s taking place in his wheelhouse.

He did take an oath, right? And he presumably understands its importance?

I’d also let GOA and NRA know that if they’re going to sell these guys to us, we’re relying on them to make that expectation known as a condition of endorsement.

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David Codrea blogs at The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance (WarOnGuns.com), and is a field editor/columnist for GUNS Magazine. Named “Journalist of the Year” in 2011 by the Second Amendment Foundation for his groundbreaking work on the “Fast and Furious” ATF “gunwalking” scandal, he is a frequent event speaker and guest on national radio and television programs.

12 comments

John Culbertson is from Texas. But his record for this session of Congress is NOTHING to brag about. A Conservative Review Scorecard of just 54%. No, you don’t have to be polite with him. Get nasty and tell him that Texas, in spite of Democrat, latino strongholds still has plenty of real conservatives. And if he does not respond according to the CONSTITUTION, he can be replaced.

One thing most people do not realize is that “Sentences of less than state imposed loss of life” were founded on the principle that once you “paid your debt to society” you were a free man. There was never an intention of the permanent loss of rights or responsibilities as those came with loss of life sentences.
Loss of life for clarification means execution or imprisonment until death.
When i was growing up, possession of as little marijuana as a joint was a felony. I know a few friends who have lost even the right to vote over what is now legal in a lot of states.
One friend in of course New Jersey had a check bounce and was charged and convicted of “Fraud” when he was 18 he is now 50. Never been in any other trouble, owns his own business, raised 5 beautiful children, owns his home, pays his taxes and still he can not vote or own a firearm, all because he didnt add right and couldnt afford a real attorney.
How many of us have had a check bounce? I have, it wasnt on purpose and thankfully no charges were pressed but for the grace of God go I.
Call me a Christian or old fashioned but once you have paid your debt, and have demonstrated your intention to follow the laws of society say with a 5 year “Rights Review” then you should have your rights restored. And depending on the actual crime never have them taken, suspended while your debt is being paid fine, but too many politicians see this “felony for life” as a way of back door gun control which is why in some cases such as restraining orders police and others do not have their right to own or carry removed while civilians do.
In a honesty i would trust an MS-13 gangbanger with a machine gun before i would trust people like chuck or maxine waters with a waterpistol

Following up Green Giant’s astute “evil” observation; If I were a Hollywood Film producer looking for someone to play the part of a psychotic evil mass killer…Schumer would have nailed it with the photo above. BTW, one of his senior staffers provided the joke of the century when he told a group of us that the name Schumer in Hebrew means “Protector”. 🙂

Round and round we go it will never stop you know. I basically have had enough of the Schumers and the gun control asses. Its time to stand our ground regardless of what these socialist pass into law. This is our country , it is of the people for the people and by the people. Ahearance to the Constitution is their job not to toy around with our God Given Rights. We should pass laws that remove elected officials from office that violate their oath. That oath is a contract between you the citizens of this nation and your country, to do whatever is necessary to protect and defend its existance. They can all go to hell!